Jephthah and Ephraim
1The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”
2Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 3When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”
4Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.” 5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,” 6they said, “All right, say ‘Shibboleth.’ ” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.
7Jephthah led12:7 Traditionally judged; also in verses 8-14 Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon and Abdon
8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. 10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. 12Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. 15Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Yefta Na Efraimu
112:1 Yos 13:27; Amu 11:1; 8:1Watu wa Efraimu wakaita majeshi yao, wakavuka kwenda Zafoni, wakamwambia Yefta, “Kwa nini mmekwenda kupigana na Waamoni bila kutuita ili twende pamoja nawe? Basi tutaichoma moto nyumba yako, pamoja nawe ukiwa ndani yake.”
2Yefta akajibu, “Mimi na watu wangu tulikuwa na ugomvi mkubwa na Waamoni, hata ingawa niliwaita hamkuniokoa katika mkono wao. 312:3 Amu 9:17; Kum 20:7; 1Sam 19:5; Ay 13:14Nilipoona kuwa hamkunipa msaada nikauhatarisha uhai wangu na nikavuka kupigana na Waamoni. Naye Bwana akanipatia ushindi dhidi yao. Sasa kwa nini mnanijia leo ili kupigana nami?”
412:4 1Fal 17:1; Mwa 46:20; Isa 9:21; 19:2Ndipo Yefta akakusanya watu wa Gileadi pamoja na kupigana na Efraimu. Wagileadi wakawashinda Efraimu, kwa kuwa Waefraimu walisema, “Ninyi Wagileadi ni watoro mliotoroka toka Efraimu na Manase.” 512:5 Yos 2:5-7; Amu 3:28Wagileadi wakaviteka vivuko vya Yordani dhidi ya hao Waefraimu, kisha ilikuwa yeyote yule aliyenusurika katika Efraimu aliposema, “Niache nivuke,” hao watu wa Gileadi walimuuliza, “Je wewe ni Mwefraimu?” Kama alijibu “Hapana,” 6walimwambia, “Sawa, sema ‘Shibolethi.’ ” Iwapo alitamka, “Sibolethi,” kwa sababu hakuweza kutamka hilo neno sawasawa, walimkamata na kumuua hapo kwenye vivuko vya Yordani. Waefraimu 42,000 waliuawa wakati huo.
7Yefta akawa mwamuzi wa Waisraeli kwa muda wa miaka sita. Basi Yefta akafa, akazikwa katika mmojawapo wa miji ya Gileadi.
Ibzani, Eloni Na Abdoni
812:8 Mwa 35:19Baada yake, Ibzani wa Bethlehemu akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli. 9Alikuwa na wana thelathini na binti thelathini. Akawaoza binti zake kwa watu wengine nje ya ukoo wake, na kuwatwalia wanawe wanawake thelathini toka nje ya ukoo wake. Ibzani akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka saba. 10Ibzani akafa, akazikwa huko Bethlehemu.
11Baada yake Eloni, Mzabuloni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli, naye akawaamua kwa muda wa miaka kumi. 1212:12 Yos 10:12Kisha Eloni akafa, akazikwa katika Aiyaloni, katika nchi ya Zabuloni.
1312:13 2Sam 23:30; 1Nya 11:31; 27:14Baada yake, Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli. 1412:14 Amu 8:30; 5:10; 10:4Naye akazaa wana arobaini na wana wa wanawe thelathini waliopanda punda sabini. Akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka minane. 1512:15 Amu 5:14Ndipo Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akafa, naye akazikwa huko Pirathoni katika Efraimu, katika nchi ya vilima ya Waamaleki.
